Does Libido Help Creativity?: Philosophy Forums

Philosophy Forums » Social Sciences » Does Libido Help Creativity? » Does Libido Help Creativity?

Does Libido Help Creativity?

will11
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 06, 2008
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 10

Posted 06/08/08 - 12:57 AM: Subject: Does Libido Help Creativity?	#1
According to freud's theory, libido or the sexual energy should be sublimated into constructive activities, like sports or creative arts. But instead most people use it in sexual related activities, hence they may waste their libido. We are aware of spiritual people who abstain from sexual acts, as they want to stay from negative energy. So what do we do? Repress our libido or indulge in normal sexual behavior.

enkidu
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Total Topics: 18
Total Posts: 1235

Posted 07/02/08 - 06:24 PM:	#2
will11 wrote: According to freud's theory, libido or the sexual energy should be sublimated into constructive activities, like sports or creative arts. But instead most people use it in sexual related activities, hence they may waste their libido. We are aware of spiritual people who abstain from sexual acts, as they want to stay from negative energy. So what do we do? Repress our libido or indulge in normal sexual behavior. First of all, the sublimation you are talking about is not quite a conscious process that one can control at will, by resolution of abstinence for instance. The typical example Freud considers for this type of sublimation is Leonardo Da Vinci, unfortunately I don't have the book with me, so I cannot check exactly what is written in it, but if my memory serves me well, I am quite sure Freud specifically insists on the fact that the sublimation of libidinal energy into outstanding creativity is a very exceptional fact, and while Leonardo succeeded in it (according to this hypothesis, that Freud, as I recall, presents as a mere possibility and not as a well-established theory), most people will simply be driven into serious neurosis from the complete repression of their sexual drive. Freud, while not knowing all the details about the life of Leonardo is careful to mention that for his case, other factors must have come into play to direct his libido towards creative activity (some other factors could as easily have directed it to mass murder, I don't think it's a comment Freud made, but I believe it's in the spirit of the thesis). In addition, it's not like all creative people did repress their libido. I never heard that Mozart was extremely abstinent. And many creative people have actually been very sexually active. It's one of the difficulty of Freud, most people takes his theories with much more generality than he ever intended to give them. If you read him carefully, you will notice that he puts a lot of qualifications in his hypothesis, and often confined them to particular cases (especially in terms of intensity), all the mechanisms he described may indeed be latent in all of us, but they express themselves very differently, and within a large range of intensity. Freud often reminds his readers (clearly not enough, but he does) that his theories are meant to cure people who displays pathological features. They are not to be taken as an exhaustive explanation of human psychology, and certainly cannot be taken for rooting a moral prescription (even on utilitarian ground) for sexual abstinence. The best proof is that Freud himself never show any sign of fancying sexual abstinence. Edited by enkidu on 07/02/08 - 07:30 PM
"The difficulty in philosophy is to say no more than we know." L. Wittgenstein - The Blue Book "Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes" - you know who

jimRH7
Student

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Total Topics: 8
Total Posts: 61

Posted 07/03/08 - 09:09 AM:	#3
In my opinion, I think the increase in creativity is due more to boredom than libido - For example, people spend more time on their hobbies if they don't have a girlfriend or boyfriend, Whereas People caught up in love affairs etc. are often distant and have trouble focusing on things - their mind is preoccupied. The first thing i thought of when reading the thread title was Whitesnake's David Coverdale: "I will continue to be inspired by my loins" ha ha! It might be correct that many people who have frustrated libido are more creative when the subject is the opposite sex etc. I think Someone famous said sex is only a big deal when you're not getting it.

will11
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 06, 2008
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 10

Posted 08/16/08 - 11:10 PM:	#4
Fine, lets leave out creativity.Libido might contribute to that extra energy in a person - For Ex. Athletes usually conserve their sexual energy. Repressing libido for a long time may cause frustrations, but for a little time it may be helpful.

the logos
you win

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 28, 2005
Location: Findlay, IL
Total Topics: 14
Total Posts: 394

Posted 08/20/08 - 08:31 AM:	#5
It depends on how effected one is by it. Some people have put the libido in its place and really don't feel it pushing them in any way in life. Other people have made sex a rather substantial issue in their life, they would be the ones that are possibly made more creative by having an unfulfilled libido. If they are frequently fulfilling the libido (by carrying out the sexual acts), I would say it hurts creativity. Creativity has to do with pent up feeling and reactions to the world and what it means to be a human in the world. If these human situations are constantly being taken care of, they get less attention mentally because the energy is released on a physical level. So, it is the process of "not getting any" that might increase creativity. At least this is how I see it. Anyway, shouldn't this be in philosophy of the arts?
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt". Bertrand Russell Man has forgotten how to die because he does not know how to live. (Rousseau)

wuliheron
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
Location: Newport News, Va
Total Topics: 10
Total Posts: 3157

Posted 09/11/08 - 01:30 AM:	#6
Freud had it backwards. Creativity increases libedo. As for spirituality, before the British invaded India there was a popular religion there that promoted sex as a means of finding oneness with God.

You don't have permission to post.

Please login or register.